KR20200068765A - Method for three dimensional printing and three dimensional printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for three dimensional (3D) printing and a 3D printing device are provided. The 3D printing device includes a modeling printing head, a coloring printing head, and a platform. The modeling printing head and the coloring printing head are co-constructed. The three dimensional printing method includes the steps of: printing a forming layer and at least one material barrier outside a bounding area of the forming layer; calculating multiple coloring routes of the coloring printing head according to an edge of the forming layer; converting the coloring routes of the coloring printing head into multiple color-passing routes of the modeling printing head; calculating multiple detour routes of the modeling printing head according to the color-passing routes of the modeling printing head. Each of the detour routes is not the shortest route between a corresponding color-passing route and the next color-passing route, and one of the each of the detour routes and the corresponding color-passing route passes at least one location of the at least one material barrier.

Description

3D printing method and 3D printing device {METHOD FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTING AND THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTING DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional (3D) printing technique, specifically a 3D printing method and a 3D printing apparatus.

Various methods of fabricating physical 3D models using additive manufacturing (AM) techniques such as layer-by-layer fabrication models have been proposed in succession. AM technology typically converts 3D model design information produced by software, such as computer-aided design (CAD), into multiple successively stacked thin (semi-dimensional) cross-section layers.

Currently, many methods have been developed for forming a plurality of thin cross-section layers. For example, when a forming material is sprayed or extruded on a platform according to the information of the thin cross-section layers described above, the molding material is cured to form thin cross-section layers, and a 3D object is formed after layer-by-layer stacking. Can be. In addition, the printing apparatus may be further equipped with a coloring printing head which facilitates coloring of the thin cross-section layers or 3D objects during or after the manufacturing process of the 3D object. Therefore, how to ensure that the printing and coloring operations of objects are executed smoothly during the manufacturing process without affecting each other is a practical problem that needs to be considered by those skilled in the art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a 3D printing method and a 3D printing apparatus.

The present invention provides a 3D printing method and a 3D printing apparatus, wherein a modeling printing head and a colored print head having synchronous displacement cause at least one material barrier to cause a modeling print head. By cleaning the modeling print head by adjusting the movement path of the modeling, it prevents the modeling print head on the non-colouring path from passing over the 3D object, thereby modeling the color print head performing coloration through the forming layer. It is possible to prevent the 3D object from being affected by the molding material in the print head.

The method for 3D printing of the present invention is applicable to a 3D printing apparatus. The 3D printing apparatus includes a modeling print head, a color print head and a platform. The modeling print head prints the forming layers on the platform, and the coloring print head colors the forming layer. The modeling print head and the colored print head are fabricated together to form a group of print heads. The method for 3D printing includes the following steps: printing a forming layer and at least one material barrier outside the forming layer's bounding area; Calculating a plurality of colored paths of the colored print head according to the edge of the forming layer when calculating the paths of the print head group of the colored job; Converting the color paths of the color print head to a plurality of color-pass paths of the modeling print head; Compute a plurality of detour routes of the modeling print head according to the color-passing paths of the modeling print head, each bypass path between the end point of the corresponding color-passing path and the start point of the next color-passing path. Not one of the shortest paths, one of the color-passing paths corresponding to each bypass path passing through at least one location of the at least one material barrier; And controlling a job of the printhead group along the modeling printhead moving through the color-passing paths and bypass paths, thereby performing a coloring job by the coloring printhead in the forming layer.

The 3D printing apparatus of the present invention includes a modeling print head, a color print head, a platform and a processor. The modeling print head and colored print head are fabricated together to form a group of print heads. The modeling print head prints the forming layer on the platform. The processor controls the modeling print head to print the forming layer and print at least one material barrier outside the confined area of the forming layer. When the processor calculates the paths of the coloring job of the group of printheads, it calculates a plurality of coloring paths of the coloring printhead according to the edge range of the forming layer, and the coloring paths of the coloring printhead are spaced between the modeling printhead and the coloring printhead. The modeling printhead is converted into a plurality of color-passing paths, and the modeling printhead's color-passing paths are calculated to calculate a plurality of bypass passages. Each bypass path is not the shortest path between the starting point of the next color-passing path at the end point of the corresponding color-passing path, and one of each bypassing path and the corresponding color-passing paths is at least one of the at least one material barrier To pass the location. The processor controls the work of the printhead group according to the modeling printhead passing through the color-passing paths and bypass paths, and performs coloring by the coloring printhead in the forming layer.

Based on the foregoing, since the 3D printing apparatus of the exemplary embodiment has a synchronously moving modeling print head and a color print head, it is necessary to separate the 3D print job from the color job when producing a 3D object, , 3D printing work is usually completed before coloring work. While performing the coloring operation, to prevent the 3D object from being influenced by the molding material in the modeling print head when the color print head performing the coloring moves and passes the forming layer (for example, molding from the modeling print head to the forming layer) Material is falling), when calculating the paths of the modeling print head and the color print head during the coloring operation, an exemplary embodiment adjusts the movement path of the modeling print head to cause the modeling print head to pass through the material barrier and -Prevents the modeling print head on colored paths from passing over the 3D object, thereby reducing the probability that the modeling print head will drop material onto the 3D object. The molding material of the modeling print head can be attached to the material barrier due to contact with the material barrier, that is, the material barrier provides scraping and cleaning actions to the modeling print head, so when coloring, modeling print It effectively prevents the forming material of the head from falling off the forming layer and affecting the print quality of the 3D object.

In order to better understand the above-described features and advantages of the present invention, some embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a partial conceptual diagram of a 3D printing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a partial top conceptual view of a 3D printing apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a method of a 3D printing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a conceptual diagram of the coloring path of the coloring print head 132 and the color-passing paths and bypass paths of the modeling print head 131 in steps S320 to S340.
5 is a detailed flowchart of step S340.
6 is a conceptual diagram of bypass paths of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

<Cross reference to related applications>

This application claims the priority of Taiwan Application Serial No. 107115505 filed on May 8, 2018. The above-mentioned patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and forms part of the present specification.

<Detailed description of disclosed embodiments>

Fig. 1 is a partial conceptual diagram of a 3D printing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a partial top conceptual view of a 3D printing apparatus. 1 and 2, in an exemplary embodiment, the 3D printing apparatus 100 includes a frame 110, a platform 120, a printing component 130, and a control module 140 (shown in FIG. 2). ). The 3D printing apparatus 100 may be, for example, a fused deposition modeling (FDM) apparatus. The modeling print head 131 of the printing component 130 can stack the 3D object by printing the forming layer 200 on the platform 120 in a layer-by-layer. The printing component 130 further includes a colored print head 132, which is, for example, an inkjet head used to color a forming layer or 3D objects.

In the exemplary embodiment, the method of 3D printing arranges X-Y-Z orthogonal coordinates to more accurately define and describe the composition and operation of related elements. In this case, the platform 120 has an X-Y plane, and the multi-layer forming layer stacks 3D objects along the positive Z-axis direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, the composition and action between elements are in a relative state, and when used in different coordinate systems, there are ways to describe in different ways, but do not affect the correspondence between elements.

The modeling print head 131 and the colored print head 132 of the exemplary embodiment form a group of print heads and move in synchronization within the interior space of the frame 110. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing component 130 further includes a moving component 133 movably assembled to the frame 110 and electrically connected to the control module 140. The control module 140 includes a memory of the processor 142 and related instructions for storing or temporarily storing the 3D printing method of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The modeling print head 131 and the color print head 132 are assembled together to the moving component 133, so both move along the moving component 133 within the frame 110. In other words, the modeling print head 131 and the color print head 132 are disposed on the same moving component 133 to form a co-construction structure, that is, only a single driving means (only moving Only by driving the component 133 can move the modeling print head 131 and the color print head 132 in synchronization (also it can be considered that there is no relative movement between the two). In this way, when the colored print head 132 colors the forming layer or 3D object, the modeling print head 131 also moves and follows the forming layer or 3D object (ie, along the Z axis direction). Will be. When the modeling print head 131 has just finished printing the shaping layer or 3D object, the remaining shaping material will also be present inside the modeling print head 131. Therefore, as described above, when the modeling print head 131 passes through the molding layer or 3D object, there is a possibility that residual molding material flows or falls on the printed molding layer or 3D object.

In order to prevent the aforementioned residual molding material from affecting the quality of the printing target, the 3D printing method and the corresponding 3D printing device provided in the exemplary embodiment, through the material barrier when the colored print head moves, Leaving the modeling print head clean, try to prevent the modeling print head on non-colored paths from passing over the 3D object when calculating the displacement path of the modeling print head, thereby forming a shaping layer or 3D object Try to prevent the quality of the affected by the above reasons.

The 3D printing method of the exemplary embodiment can be implemented after the 3D model is completed, that is, after the fabrication of the 3D object model is completed by the computer-assisted design method, the 3D method can be used for cutting layer analysis. In the procedure of analyzing a plurality of forming layers, the processor 142 of the control module 140 simulates the operation mode of the modeling print head 131, the color print head 132, and the moving component 133. When performing object printing according to the rating, job commands of the 3D printing apparatus 100 may be provided. In another exemplary embodiment, the 3D object model may also perform analysis by a processor of another computer device or a non-3D printing device. When analysis is completed and job commands are generated, the control module 140 of the 3D printing apparatus 100 may be imported further to perform an object print job.

Referring to FIG. 2, when an exemplary embodiment prints the forming layer 200, at least one material barrier 210 is formed together outside the restricted area 202 of the forming layer 200, and the forming layer 200 ) And the material barrier 210 are completed, the coloring operation of the colored region is performed. Since the height of the material barrier is sufficient to scrape the remaining molding material on the modeling print head 131, when the exemplary embodiment calculates the paths of the modeling print head and the color print head of the coloring job, the example embodiment prints the modeling Adjusting the moving path of the head causes the modeling print head to pass through the material barrier to remove residual molding material, prevents the modeling print head on the non-coloured path from passing over the 3D object, thereby modeling print It reduces the probability that the head will spill material on the 3D object. The so-called “restricted area” refers to a square block of the least square body that holds the frame such that the entire 3D object is printed by orthographic projection on the XY plane. Each side of the smallest square is at least parallel to one of the X, Y, or Z axes. The restricted area may be larger than the peripheral contour of the shaping layer 200 (herein referred to as the edge of the shaping layer). For example, if the bottom surface of the cone is a 3D object to be printed, the forming layer of the bottom surface is a circular shape having the largest diameter among all the cutting layers, and the forming layer closer to the top is a circular shape having a smaller diameter. The restricted area is equal to a square block (in this case, a square) whose circular diameter is the side length of the bottom surface of the forming layer, and the square block accurately frames the circular shape of the bottom surface of the forming layer. With regard to the description of the upper shaping layer, the confined area will be larger than the circular shape of the shaping layer, that is, the side length of the confining area and the circular shape of the shaping layer will still have a distance gap. The purpose of setting the restricted area is whether the control module 140 of the 3D printing apparatus does not affect whether the printing component 130 is positioned on the forming layer 200 of the current layer, and more importantly, on the underlying completed forming layer. This is to facilitate the determination of whether or not. For example, that the printing module 130 is outside the restricted area does not only indicate that the printing module 130 is not above the forming layer 200 in the current layer, but rather that the completed forming layer underneath (eg, previously below It did not affect the formed bottom surface). In addition, the edge of the forming layer 200 does not limit its shape due to the appearance of the 3D object. Therefore, the restricted area can help simplify path planning or related tasks of the control module 140 for the printing component 130.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a 3D printing method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here, the relevant requirements of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention are preset. When performing a print job and/or a coloring job, the working direction of the modeling print head of the exemplary embodiment and one of the job commands of the coloring print head is directed along the X-axis direction, and allows the modeling print head and the color print head to After completing the work order, return to the starting point of the next work order. In order for the modeling print head to move and pass through the material barrier 210 during the coloring operation, the material barrier 210 of the exemplary embodiment is mainly disposed on the right side of the restricted area 202, and applies the exemplary embodiment It can arbitrarily place the material barrier 210 in the vicinity of the confinement region 202 (eg, to the left, top, and bottom of the confinement region 202) according to its requirements, and is not limited in the exemplary embodiment.

2 and 3, in step S310, when the processor 142 of the control module 140 controls the modeling print head 131 to print the shaping layer 200, the shaping layer 200 At least one material barrier (here, material barrier 210 is used as an example) is printed together outside the restricted area 202 of. The printing step of the forming layer 200 is briefly described below. First, the control module 140 acquires model information of a 3D object and analyzes the model information as shaping layer information. The so-called "molding layer" is a transformation of design information from a 3D model made in software into a plurality of thin (semi-dimensional) cross-section layers in series. Then, the shaping layer is analyzed and the processor 140 drives the 3D printing apparatus 100 to perform printing according to corresponding commands generated after analysis, thereby printing the shaping layer 200 and the material barrier 210. The person applying the exemplary embodiment may arbitrarily adjust the printing order of the forming layer 200 and the material barrier 210, that is, the forming layer 200 and the material barrier 210 may use the modeling print head 131. Can be printed simultaneously, or one of the forming layer 200 and the material barrier 210 can be printed first, and then the other.

The positional configuration of the material barrier 210 can be set according to the configuration relationship between the modeling printhead 131 and the printhead group. For example, the distance a between the lower edge of the restricted area 202 and the lowest portion L1 of the material barrier 210 is between the central point N1 of the modeling print head 131 and the lowest portion of the colored print head 132 of the print head group. The distance n should be less than or equal to. Therefore, when the moving component 133 equipped with the modeling print head 131 and the color print head 132 is positioned at the position LN1 (shown by the dotted line) in FIG. 2 to perform the first job command of the coloration job, The modeling print head 131 may pass through the material barrier 210 to scrape off residual material. In addition, the control module 140 may configure the starting point of the work command near the position of the material barrier, so that when performing each work command of the coloring task, all work commands cause the modeling print head 131 to make the material It may pass through the barrier 210 to scrape off the remaining material. The support portion 212 of the material barrier 210 is used to support the material barrier body. The application of the exemplary embodiment does not limit the length, shape, and configuration direction of the support portion 212.

In step S320, the control module 140 calculates a plurality of coloring paths of the coloring print head 132 according to the edge or the restricted area of the forming layer 200 when calculating the paths of the print head group of the coloring job. 4 is a conceptual diagram of color paths of the color print head 132 in steps S320 to S340, and color-pass paths and bypass paths of the modeling print head 131. The coloring operation is mainly for coloring the molding layer 200 by the coloring print head 132 (for example, coloring by an inkjet method). Therefore, the control module 140 will first calculate or obtain a plurality of color paths of the color print head 132 (eg, solid arrows CR1 to CR4 in FIG. 4 ). The so-called "coloring paths" in the exemplary embodiment causes the color print head 132 to pass over the forming layer 200 (and also over the direction along the Z axis) to perform coloration. In an exemplary embodiment, "the edge of the forming layer 200" may be a closed curve represented by the forming layer 200 of FIG. 4. In some exemplary embodiments consistent with the present invention, the control module 140 is directed to the edge of the forming layer 200 under the premise that each colored path is "make the colored paths of the colored print head 132 shorter". To be as close as possible, the colored paths can be calculated accordingly to have shorter colored distances. On the other hand, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may also use a restricted area located outside the "edge of the forming layer 200" as a basis for calculating the colored paths, that is, the colored areas of the colored print head 132 It is calculated according to the restricted area 202 of the forming layer 200. The reason for using the limited area of the shaping layer 200 as a basis for calculating the color paths is that the edge of the shaping layer 200 can be very complex (eg, pentagonal shape, or even an edge with multiple concave shapes). . Therefore, using the restricted area as a basis for calculating the color paths can reduce the workload of the control module 140. In addition, as described above in relation to the restricted area, in addition to ensuring that the 3D printing device is not positioned over the forming layer 200 of the current layer, the use of the restricted area also allows the completed forming layers to be completed. We can guarantee that it will not be affected. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 uses the confined area of the shaping layer 200 as an example of the basis for calculating the color paths. However, for those skilled in the art, using a limited area as a calculation basis has less calculation amount and less influence on each forming layer, but printing time may be longer, and using the edge of the forming layer 200 as a calculation basis It will be apparent that the path is shorter and the printing time can be reduced, but the calculation amount may be larger. Those skilled in the art should be able to decide which one to use at their discretion. For example, if the above-described material barrier is used to scrape the residual material, the probability of spilling the residual material will be evaluated to be smaller, and if so, the edge of the forming layer 200 will be determined to be used as a calculation basis.

For convenience of explanation, the starting points of the coloring paths CR1, CR2, CR3 and CR4 in FIG. 4 show the positions LN11, LN21, LN31 and LN41 of the moving component 133 of the print head group, respectively, and the coloring paths CR1 , The end points of CR2, CR3 and CR4 also show the positions LN12, LN22, LN32 and LN42 of the moving component 133 of the print head group, respectively. In the exemplary embodiment, when the moving component 133 provided with the coloring print head 132 performs a coloring operation according to the coloring path CR1 to reach the location LN12 from the location LN11, the moving component 133 moves to the next coloring path (i.e. , Move to the starting point of the coloring path CR2 (that is, move the moving component 133 to the position LN21). When the moving component 133 provided with the coloring print head 132 performs a coloring operation according to the coloring path CR3 to reach the location LN32 from the location LN31, the moving component 133 moves to the next coloring path (i.e., the coloring path CR4). Move to the starting point (i.e. move the moving component 133 to position LN41). In other words, both the starting point and the ending point of each coloring path are located outside the edge of the forming layer 200 (in the exemplary embodiment, the restricted area 202 of the forming layer 200).

In step S330 of FIG. 3, the control module 140 models the coloring paths CR1 to CR4 of the color print head 132 according to the distance between the modeling print head 131 and the color print head 132. A plurality of color-passing paths of 131 are converted to CPR1 to CPR4. In an exemplary embodiment, the spacing between the central point N1 of the modeling print head 131 and the set point N2 of the colored print head 132 is denoted NB. As shown in FIG. 4, when the distance NB between the modeling print head 131 and the color print head 132 is obtained, the color-passing of the modeling print head 131 by displacing the space NB in the color paths CR1 to CR4 Paths CPR1 to CPR4 are obtained. The reason for performing step S330 is: The exemplary embodiment is primarily intended to try to prevent the modeling print head 131 from passing over the forming layer 200 of the 3D object when performing the coloring operation. Therefore, it is necessary to know whether the color-passing paths CPR1 to CPR4 clearly cause the modeling print head 131 to pass over the forming layer 200. In addition, after obtaining the color-passing paths CPR1 to CPR4, a plurality of bypass paths of the modeling print head 131 may be calculated in a subsequent step (S340).

In step S340 of FIG. 3, the processor 142 in the control module 140 (bypasses) the modeling print head 131 according to the color-passing paths (such as CPR1 to CPR4) of the modeling print head 131. Compute multiple bypass paths (such as paths TR1 and TR3). In the exemplary embodiment, when the modeling print head 131 reaches the position LN12 from the position LN11 by performing a coloring operation according to the color-passing path CPR1, the modeling print head 131 then colors (such as the color path CR2). The path between the start point of the path (ie, the moving component 133 is moved to position LN21), where the path between the end point of the color-passing path and the start point of the next color-passing path will be referred to as a “bypass path”. .

In traditional 3D printing technology, in order to reduce printing time, the bypass path is usually set as the shortest path between the end point of the color-passing path and the start point of the next color-passing path. However, if the bypass path is set as the shortest path, the modeling print head 131 will most likely be positioned over the forming layer 200 during the coloring operation, and when the coloring print head performs coloring, the molding material of the print head is the forming layer It will make it flow on the 200. Therefore, in order to avoid the above-mentioned problems, the "bypass path" of the exemplary embodiment is not the shortest path between the end point of the color-passing path and the starting point of the next color-passing path, and the "bypassing path" is the modeling print head 131. It is designed to bypass the forming layer 200 as much as possible to prevent it from being over the forming layer 200. In addition, the color-passing paths corresponding to one of the respective bypass paths will pass through the material barrier 210 and scrape off the remaining molding material on the modeling print head 131. The exemplary embodiment causes each color-passing path CPR1 to CPR4 to pass through the material barrier 210 upon start-up. In some demonstrative embodiments, it can be determined by experimentation or by empirical rule when the residue of the modeling print head 131 will flow to set the shedding time, and the (color- When designing a travel path (including pass paths and bypass paths), the modeling print head 131 can be placed on the forming layer 200 after passing through the material barrier 131 within its shedding time, The modeling print head 131 may be prevented from passing over the forming layer 200 at different times. In this way, spillage of residue over the forming layer 200 can be prevented.

In step S350 of FIG. 3, the processor 142 in the control module 140 passes through color-passing paths (such as CPR1 to CPR4 in FIG. 4) and bypass paths (such as TR1 and TR3 in the figures). The operation of the print head group 130 is controlled according to the modeling print head 131 passing by, and a coloring job is performed by the color print head 132 in the forming layer 200. In this way, after the shaping layer 200 of the 3D object is printed, coloring of the shaping layer 200 can be further completed.

Here, the bypass paths TR1 and TR3 will be described as an example of how the bypass paths of the modeling print head 131 of FIG. 4 are calculated and determined. 5 is a detailed flowchart of step S340. In step S510, the processor 142 may include a first edge (eg, one of the first edges EG11 and EG13) or a second edge of the forming layer 200 whose color-passing path corresponds to one of the bypass paths ( For example, the one closer to the second edge EG21, EG23) is determined. The first edges EG11 and EG13 of the exemplary embodiment are separated by corresponding color-passing paths and are located on one side of the forming layer 200. The second edges EG21 and EG23 are separated by corresponding color-passing paths and are located on the other side of the forming layer 200.

Using the bypass path TR1 between the end point of the color-passing path CPR1 and the start point of the color-passing path CPR2 as an example, the bypass path TR1 corresponds to the color-passing path CPR1, and the first edge EG11 corresponds to the corresponding color-passing path. The side edge of the forming layer 200 separated by CPR1; The second edge EG21 is the other edge of the forming layer 200 separated by the corresponding color-passing path CPR2. Since the average distance between the second edge EG21 and the color-passing path CPR1 is shorter than the average distance between the first edge EG11 and the color-passing path CPR1, the processor 142 determines that the color-passing path CPR1 is closer to the second edge EG21. do.

When the color-passing path CPR1 is closer to the second edge EG21 of the shaping layer 200, step S510 proceeds to step S530, whereby the processor 142 calculates the bypass path TR1 so that the bypass path TR1 is removed. 2 passes along the edge EG21 and does not pass over the forming layer 220 to reach the starting point of the next color-passing path CPR2. In the exemplary embodiment, since the second edge EG21 is closer to the lower edge of the restricted region 202 of the shaping layer 200, the bypass path TR1 bypasses the lower edge of the restricted region 202, thereby 2 The edge of the next color-passing path CPR2 is reached without passing through the edge EG21 and over the forming layer 220.

In addition, if the bypass path TR3 between the end point of the color-passing path CPR3 and the start point of the color-passing path CPR4 is used as an example, the bypass path TR3 corresponds to the color-passing path CPR3, and the first edge EG13 corresponds to the corresponding color. -The side edge of the forming layer 200 separated by the passage CPR3; The second edge EG23 is the other edge of the forming layer 200 separated by the corresponding color-passing path CPR3. Since the average distance of the first edge EG13 and the color-passing path CPR3 is shorter than the average distance of the second edge EG23 and the color-passing path CPR3, the processor 142 determines that the color-passing path CPR3 is closer to the first edge EG13. do.

When the color-passing path CPR3 is closer to the first edge EG13 of the shaping layer 200, step S510 proceeds to step S520, whereby the processor 142 calculates the bypass path TR3 so that the bypass path TR3 is removed. 1 passes along the edge EG13 and does not pass over the forming layer 220 to reach the starting point of the next color-passing path CPR4. In the exemplary embodiment, since the first edge EG13 is closer to the upper edge of the confinement region 202 of the shaping layer 200, the bypass path TR3 bypasses the lower edge of the confinement region 202, and 1 passes along the edge EG13 and does not pass over the forming layer 220 to reach the starting point of the next color-passing path CPR4.

In step S540, the processor 142 determines whether calculations for all bypass paths have been completed. If the calculation for some bypass paths has not been completed, the process returns to step S510 to continue calculations for the bypass paths. If the calculations for all bypass paths have been completed, step S340 of FIG. 3 is completed.

The bypass paths disclosed in FIG. 4 are obtained by bypassing the upper or lower edge of the restricted area 202. The person applying the exemplary embodiment can cause the modeling print head 131 to move the first or second edge of the forming layer directly as a bypass path. 6 is a conceptual diagram of bypass paths of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6, the bypass path TR1 moves along the second edge EG21 corresponding to the shaping layer 220. In some demonstrative embodiments, if the first edge and the second edge are too serpentine, the control module 140 can also designate the bypass of the edge, unless the modeling print head 131 on the bypass path passes over the forming layer. You can use the route.

Summarizing the foregoing, since the 3D printing apparatus of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has a modeling print head and a synchronized moving print head, it is necessary to divide the 3D print job and the coloring job when manufacturing a 3D object, and 3D The print job is usually completed before the coloring job. When performing a coloring operation, in order to prevent the 3D object from being influenced by the molding material in the modeling print head, when the coloring print head performing coloring passes through the molding layer (e.g., the molding material is removed from the modeling print head). (Flowing into the forming layer), when calculating the paths of the modeling print head and the color print head during the coloring operation, the modeling print head passes through the material barrier and adjusts the movement path of the modeling print head to control the non-coloured paths It is possible to prevent the modeling print head of the image from passing over the 3D object, thereby reducing the probability of the modeling print head spilling material on the 3D object. The molding material of the modeling print head may adhere to the material barrier due to contact with the material barrier, ie, the material barrier provides scraping and cleaning action of the modeling print head, and when coloring, modeling onto the forming layer It is effectively prevented that the molding material of the print head falls off and affects the print quality of the 3D object.

Although the invention has been described with respect to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and not by the above detailed description.

Claims (10)

A method for 3D (3D) printing, applicable to a 3D printing apparatus, wherein the 3D apparatus includes a modeling printing head, a coloring printing head and a platform, and the modeling print head Prints a forminig layer on the platform, and the colored print head is colored in the forming layer, wherein the modeling print head and the colored print head are co-structured to form a group of print heads, and the 3D Output method:
Printing a forming layer and at least one material barrier outside the bounding area of the forming layer;
Calculating a plurality of colored paths of the colored print head according to the edge of the forming layer or the restricted area when calculating the paths of the colored job of the print head group;
Converting the colored paths of the colored print head into a plurality of color-passing routes of the modeling print head;
Calculating a plurality of detour routes of the modeling print head according to the color-passing paths of the modeling print head, each of the bypass paths being the end point and the next of the corresponding color-passing paths Not the shortest path between the start points of the color-passing path, and one of each of the bypass paths and the corresponding color-passing path pass through at least one location of the at least one material barrier; And
Controlling the job of the print head group according to the modeling print head moving and passing the color-passing paths and the bypass paths to perform the coloring job by the colored print head in the forming layer;
Including, 3D printing method. According to claim 1,
Wherein the modeling print head on the bypass paths does not pass over the forming layer. According to claim 1,
Calculating the bypass paths of the modeling print head is:
Determining whether the color-passing path corresponding to one of the bypass paths is closer to the first edge or the second edge of the shaping layer, wherein the first edge is connected to the corresponding color-passing path. Located on one side of the shaping layer separated by, the second edge being located on the other side of the shaping layer separated by the corresponding color-passing path; And
If the corresponding color-passing path is closer to the first edge, one of the bypassing paths is calculated, and the bypassing path passes along the first edge without passing over the shaping layer to pass the next And reaching said starting point of a color-passing path. The method of claim 3,
Calculating the bypass paths of the modeling print head is:
If the corresponding color-passing path is closer to the second edge, one of the bypassing paths is calculated, and the bypassing path passes along the second edge without passing over the shaping layer to pass the next And reaching said starting point of a color-passing path. According to claim 1,
Converting the color paths of the color print head to the color-passing paths of the modeling print head according to the distance between the modeling print head and the color print head,
The 3D printing method is:
And setting a position of the at least one material barrier according to a setup relationship between the modeling print head and the group of print heads. According to claim 1,
A method for 3D printing, wherein the forming layer and the at least one material barrier complete printing simultaneously. Modeling print head;
A color print head, wherein the modeling print head and the color print head are co-structured to form a group of print heads;
A platform, wherein the modeling print head prints a forming layer on the platform; And
A processor comprising: a processor that, when the processor controls the modeling print head to print the shaping layer, outputs at least one material barrier outside the restricted area of the shaping layer;
When the processor calculates the paths of the coloring job of the print head group, calculates a plurality of coloring paths of the coloring print head according to the edge of the restricted area of the shaping layer, and the coloring paths of the coloring print head are Converting into a plurality of color-passing paths of the modeling print head according to the distance between the modeling print head and the colored print head, and bypassing the plurality of modeling print heads according to the color-passing paths of the modeling print head Compute paths, wherein each bypass path is not the shortest path between the end point of the corresponding color-pass path and the start point of the next color-pass path, and one of each of the bypass paths and the corresponding color-pass path Passes through at least one location of the at least one material barrier, and the processor controls the operation of the group of printheads according to the modeling printhead moving and passing the color-passing paths and the bypass paths, thereby Performing the coloring operation by the coloring print head on a forming layer; 3D printing device. The method of claim 7,
The 3D printing apparatus, wherein the modeling print head on the bypass paths does not pass over the forming layer. The method of claim 7,
The processor determines whether the color-passing path corresponding to one of the bypass paths is closer to either the first edge or the second edge of the shaping layer, and the first edge passing through the corresponding color-passing path. Located on one side of the shaping layer separated by paths, the second edge is located on the other side of the shaping layer separated by the corresponding color-passing paths,
If the processor determines that the corresponding color-passing path is closer to the first edge, calculate one of the bypass paths so that the bypass path passes along the first edge and does not pass over the shaping layer So that the starting point of the next color-passing path is reached. The method of claim 9,
If the processor determines that the corresponding color-passing path is closer to the second edge, if one of the bypass paths is calculated and the bypass path passes along the second edge and does not pass over the shaping layer 3D printing apparatus, wherein the starting point of the next color-passing path is reached, but the modeling print head on the bypass path does not pass over the forming layer.

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